1994 Oncology Nursing Society Research Priorities Survey.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To determine oncology nursing research priorities as well as the type of research needed to address these priorities.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey design.

SETTING

Mail-out survey with return, postage-paid envelope provided.

SAMPLE

A random sample of 10% of Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) members who identified patient care as their primary functional area, the ONS leadership group (e.g., Board of Directors, all committee chairs), all doctorally prepared ONS members, and all members of the ONS Advanced Nursing Research Special interest Group (N = 2,178).

METHODS

The questionnaire was based on prior ONS Research Surveys and updated to reflect issues or topics that currently are relevant to oncology nurses.

MAIN RESEARCH VARIABLES

Priority ranking of 93 research topics organized into seven major categories.

FINDINGS

Seven hundred eighty-nine surveys were returned, for a 36% return rate. The top 10 priorities according to the priority index were pain; prevention; quality of life; risk reduction/screening; ethical issues; neutropenia/immunosuppression; patient education; stress, coping, and adaptation; detection; and cost containment.

CONCLUSIONS

The top 10 research issues can be used to develop priorities for the direction of research in oncology nursing.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The findings provide a basis for identifying trends in nursing practice. The fact that prevention, risk reduction, and detection appear in the top 10 suggests that nurses are moving toward a definition of practice that is not limited to managing symptoms of disease. These findings also provide guidance for forming health policy in cancer care.